Learn from Educational Podcasts on your iOS or Android Phones

Ever wanted to listen to a radio show but you can't because you have a wonderful online class session to attend?  Ever want to follow radio shows just like they did in the 50s?  Ever want to listen to those incredible TED talks but you don't have time to sit down to your computer?  Ever want to share your ideas or your students' ideas with the world through the spoken word?

Podcasting is your answer.

Podcasting is to the internet what Tivo is to digital TV and what VHS was to analog TV.  It is a way to capture events/shows/ideas and then play them back so that you can listen to them any time.  

The greatest quality about Podcasting is that it is mobile.  I started podcasting my classes in about 2006.  We would audio record classes and students would listen to them later.  Students could listen to the class while they were driving or walking or just lying around.  

The biggest issue with podcasting is that people just don't seem to know how to make it run on their phones.  I see students walking around campus with earphones plugs into both sides of their heads.  Are they listening to podcasts about the upcoming profession?  Probably not. They should, because it can give them that special edge that they might need to succeed in their professions.

One misconception that many people have is that you have to be on wifi to listen to podcasts.  Not True!!!  You can download podcast episodes to the app on your mobile device and then listen to it later.  I like to listen to podcasts while I am gardening and working in the yard.

Here is how you listen to podcasts on your phone or mobile device:

1. Download and install a podcast app. (Apple, Android or ??)
2. Sign up to get an account.
3. Subscribe to podcasts that pique your interest.  Here are some of my favorites:
1. TED Talks 
2. Every Classroom Matters - Vicki Davis -   The Cool Cat Teacher
3. This American Life
4. Tech Talk Roundtable (Concordia EdTech Podcast)
5. Moving at the Speed of Creativity
4. For each podcast, open the settings and set it to your specifications. Some of the settings include:
1. How often to refresh
2. Maximum number of episodes you on your phone at once.
3. Should your player delete episodes after they have been played.

There you have it!!!!   You are a podcast listener!!!!

But which podcast players should you use?  How do you go about doing this?  

Here are some videos that can address some of your questions.   If you have any others, please post them in the comments section and me or one of our readers to answer.

• How to Listen to Podcasts on iPhone and iPad by Christopher Meinck
• How to Download and Listen to Podcasts on Android or iOS by Digital Trends
• 8 Stitcher Tips for Android by Stitcher Blog

Listening to Podcasts on your Desktop

What if you don't want to listen to it on your phone?  If you want to listen to it on your desktop, I would suggest using iTunes.  Sure this is an Apple product, but it runs on both platforms and is easy to use.

If that doesn't fit your needs, here is an article about How to Listen to Podcasts in Windows 10.

What do you think?  Don't wait, go right ahead and download an app to your phone or mobile device and listen to some of your favorites.

Here are some places to find leading podcasts in Education:

• 36 Educational Podcasts to Energize Your Teaching

• Best Education Tech Podcasts